Fu Hua had been waiting for this day for a long time.
To be precise, many close to Zeke had been waiting for this day—the day when Zeke would summon back their dearly departed loved ones.
However, resurrection is an immensely resource-intensive technique, with its cost exponentially increasing over time since death. To ensure the steady progress of human civilization and prepare for the final battlefield, such expenditure must be approached with utmost caution. Additionally, as an unprecedented mechanism for assurance and reward, the implications of resurrection are profound for all humanity. It cannot be used lightly or indiscriminately; haphazardly employing it poses significant risks to both resources and morale.
In summary, to avoid unpredictable chaos that could negatively impact the flourishing new era, during Zeke's busy days, others privately reached an understanding: they would monitor each other closely to prevent any undue pressure on Zeke.
This was indeed challenging, but no one wished to disrupt this thriving situation, as the potential consequences were unbearable for anyone—except Kevin, who stood as an exception. He never brought up the topic of resurrection and rarely interacted with the group. No one knew whether he doubted the authenticity of the resurrection technology or harbored some other thoughts.
Fortunately, Fu Hua managed to wait until the day Zeke addressed the matter.
Entering a vast, snow-white space reminiscent of a temple, Fu Hua casually surveyed the floating columns, intricate reliefs, and the red platform resembling a bed at the center.
"Is it okay for just the two of us to suddenly barge in here?" Fu Hua asked, her voice tinged with hesitation.
After all, Durandal managed the Hall of Heroes. As a Valkyrie deeply committed to her duty, she meticulously reviewed every resurrection application from all angles. Now, Fu Hua had followed Zeke inside without any formalities, leaving her somewhat uneasy.
"I am the emperor, and you are one of my most trusted advisors. There's nothing wrong with our visit," Zeke replied matter-of-factly, without hidden intentions or overthinking—just stating the truth plainly.
Fu Hua paused momentarily.
"Hm, y-you're right."
"...Just discussing practical matters, no need to blush."
"I know."
"I meant about us...never mind, let's save that conversation for later."
The pair looked at each other side by side; Fu Hua's cheeks flushed adorably, while Zeke appeared slightly flustered as well.
Certain matters, though never explicitly discussed, gradually became understood between them. With their individual concerns and no clear solutions, they chose not to bring it up easily.
After a moment, both shifted their gazes away, tacitly setting aside the topic as they regained their composure.
"Ahem! Let's talk about resurrection instead."
"Sure, go ahead."
"You're familiar with the mass-energy equivalence formula, right?"
"Yes, I've studied it before." Fu Hua nodded with a smile.
While relatively less educated compared to prodigies like Zeke, Otto, or Mobius, Fu Hua was highly intelligent herself. She enjoyed reading, contemplating, and delving deep into subjects, achieving significant expertise in ancient cultures. In terms of academic knowledge, her level was comparable to that of typical scientists.
Zeke acknowledged this understanding and continued, "The Life Formula somewhat reverses the concept of the mass-energy equivalence formula. Instead of releasing energy through nuclear chain reactions, it uses vast amounts of energy to restore altered atomic nuclei back to their original state. As you can imagine, reassembling the information of a living organism requires astronomical quantities of energy."
"I understand; roughly speaking, this is perhaps the weight of life itself!"
"Life doesn't have much inherent weight; it's merely extremely complex, and that complexity is the crux. With our current technological level, even to accurately restore a dead organism requires an astronomical amount of energy. For beings with intricate structures like souls and consciousness, the cost becomes even more substantial. Moreover, aside from energy, other resources are equally demanding."
"What additional resources are needed?"
"Let me not delve too deep, but for starters, Pseudo-Herrscher Cores are currently the most optimal key materials. You know these things are rare encounters and cannot be easily obtained, so I've invested great effort into developing artificial Pseudo-Herrscher Core technology... Um, Theresa actually utilized one as well this time. However, fundamentally, these artificial cores still rely on amassing vast amounts of energy. Now, do you see why I mentioned the immense consumption involved in resurrection?"
Zeke turned, his tone serious, shifting the conversation entirely onto the main topic at hand.
Fu Hua nodded earnestly, her exquisite face reflecting understanding.
To begin with, resurrection required an immense amount of energy. Utilizing the Life Formula alone consumed astronomical amounts. Combining these factors, achieving even a single resurrection posed a significant burden on contemporary human civilization. Even for someone like Zeke, it necessitated extreme caution.
"Is there...no way to improve this process? With such limitations, wouldn't large-scale battlefield applications become virtually impossible?"
"Life is both fragile and incredibly complex. Regardless of the method used, recreating life demands enormous amounts of energy. Take Dr. Mei from years ago; sometimes I wonder if she hadn't already explored the concept of resurrection but found it unfeasible given humanity's circumstances at that time... In any case, I need time. I have plans for both energy sourcing and technological advancements, but results won't be immediate."
The Sea of Quanta holds boundless energy, beyond the Void Gate lies infinite Honkai Energy, and the universe itself is vast without end. Yet as Zeke rightly pointed out, everything requires time; perfection cannot be achieved simply by wishful thinking.
Fu Hua nodded, her voice gentle.
"I understand. Don't put too much pressure on yourself. The current situation is already favorable, and whatever issues arise, we can address them together, step by step."
"Ah! If only everyone were as considerate as you, then... um, forget I said that." Zeke's spontaneous sigh abruptly cut off, avoiding another awkward turn in conversation.
Fu Hua continued smiling, showing no sign of discomfort. She reassuringly patted Zeke on the shoulder before turning serious and asked,
"Who do you plan to bring back?"
"First, my apologies. For figures from distant pasts, I'm not considering it yet due to excessively high risks. Currently, there are only two candidates: Cecilia Schariac, a specialized weapon against Herrschers—the Holy Maiden—and... Cheng Lixue."
Although Fu Hua didn't hear the names she had hoped for— Fuxi or Nuwa—the second name Zeke mentioned still caused her hands to clench tightly, turning them pale.
She took a deep breath, forcing a strained smile as she feigned composure: "Cecilia is indeed an exceptional combatant. As for Cheng Lixue... perhaps it's best to wait. Considering her limited abilities, I—I'm not really...in any rush."
However, anyone could see how difficult it was for her to say those words.
Zeke wasn't blind. He responded, "To contemporary human civilization, your contributions are immeasurable. It's only natural that you deserve a small measure of personal interest."
Shenzhou constitutes a significant part of human civilization, and its preservation and advancement over millennia owe greatly to Fu Hua, who stood steadfastly guarding Shenzhou all this time. If these contributions were quantified as achievements, there would be no request she couldn't make.
Moreover...
'With you looking so vulnerable, how can I possibly refuse?'
Seeing Fu Hua's trembling, pallid lips and her struggle to breathe, Zeke sighed inwardly.
"Very well, she's also an outstanding researcher, having undergone Mobius's training. The technology within the Book of Fuxi sufficiently proves her caliber..."
"Zeke?!"
"Just discussing facts," Zeke replied nonchalantly, his lips curving slightly as he inputted commands in mid-air.
On the red platform appeared four symbolic items: a white dress, a broken sword, a lifelike Fu Hua figurine, and an ancient scroll.
Apart from Cecilia's white dress, the other three objects evoked a profound sense of familiarity for Fu Hua, causing her eyes to involuntarily well up with emotion.
Subsequently, intricate golden patterns formed within the temple, resembling a mysterious magic array enveloping the entire space. A dense and vast amount of Honkai Energy flowed along these lines, creating an indescribable and wondrous power.
"Hum—"
Following a resonant sound, intense white light completely blinded Fu Hua's vision.